Where are you from, really?
When I feel the most overwhelmed with life and times I like to look back to where I've come from. I think there are many misconceptions about where people are from but it's our past that makes us who we are. I'm on a plane headed back to New York for Inman Real Estate Connect where the global gurus of real estate meet to hypothesize on the future of residential real estate and the modern ways to market your business, and brand you. I'm not flying with the usual excitement that I fly with when I head to one of the greatest cities in the world. I am on a strict and tight budget. Being in Manhattan is a $500/day decision so you must maximize the time. Still, it's worth the investment of time and money to "be about it" vs talk about it.
I remain personally overwhelmed with all that's going on these days. Yesterday was my only day in the office for the week. I am coming off 3 nights getting to bed at 4am (wish it was because I was out partying). Trying to get year end billing done, organize finances, be a good leader, keep up with email, maintain my relationship, be a good dad...all these are important and time consuming. All are necessary and all worth doing. The hours do tick off quick, and I know I need rest, but the night shift is really the only place I can even attempt to focus on my tasks at hand. A single day in the office for someone like me is a curse in a way. It's impossible to get it all done which creates stress. Reflection and "plane time" help me crave the bright spots in my life, my grounding, my focus. It also makes me liken back to a time when life was so, so simple...childhood.
Where did I come from?
I was born a poor white kid, raised in Sparks, Nevada. And, while I have maintained second homes in other cities, Reno has always been my true home. It is a bit hard for many to understand that the Fuze offices are a mere couple blocks away from where I grew up. My childhood home was 309 K Street in Sparks, Nevada, USA (see photo). As I drove in to the office Monday I decided to detour by my childhood home. If you haven't done that, you should (if you can). K street is where I lived from 0-15 years of age. Our home was 1000 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. We had a 1-car garage. I shared a room with by brother Todd until I started high school. I've driven down my childhood street many times. The neighborhood seemed so much bigger when I was a kid. I look at the little house we had and I am amazed. When I was little, the yard seemed giant. The space between the houses seemed to be like a football pitch. My trees seemed to reach to heaven. When I look at it now I realize that it was all, in reality, tiny. Yet, when I was there...I never felt alone, or deprived of anything. In fact, I always felt like we lived in the center of the world. What we lacked in amenities, we had in family, friendships, and love. Trite as that may seem, we figured out how to make things fun. Life was just simple.
As a father, I struggle with being a good mentor, provider and to give my son everything in life he could ever desire. But, the complexity of that cause periods of overwhelm. Our current economic times have many folks thinking back to simplicity, core, value, importance. It's good for us, all. So much excess and nothing that matters. As a for instance, u could fit 4 of my childhood homes inside the home my son and I live in now. I have a commercial kitchen in my home that rarely ever cook in. One of my cars cost 5 times what my dad paid for 309 K in 1970. I am not bragging. I work my ass off. You want it, go get it. But, there's a trade...and I'm realizing it now more than ever as I work on cutting expenses. Think about how you live as an adult vs. how you lived as a kid. As someone who was born with a Raley's freebie spoon in my mouth vs the silver variety, I feel like refocusing, something I speak about often (like here, and here, etc.) is a constant goal of mine. Stick to what's important. Love those who love you, without condition. Without exception. In them you find your core, who you are. And, really, shit else matters. I teach my son to be a good person first and to never feel like he is better than any other person in spite of what privileges he may enjoy. He shouldn't necessarily follow in my footsteps. There are simpler ways to live.
Well, we are about to land here. 36 kevin dee-grees. Cold. Ok, I'm ready to turn on my game face, shake hands and make it rain. If you care to share, I'd be interested in hearing other peoples stories on how they grew up and how they live now. Are you living like you did as a kid or have you stretched it out like me?
Updates from the city to come. Won't be any fine dining at Del Friscos, or Cipriani for me this week. I'm goin on the cheap. That's just fine with me...it's still New York.
Live swell.
B
PS
I punched this out on my iPhone in the typepad app. Sorry for the typos.
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